South Korea regains top spot in monthly global shipbuilding orders

Statistics compiled by the Clarkson Research Institute show that South Korean shipbuilders sealed new orders to build nine vessels worth a combined 130,000 compensated gross tons (CGTs) last month.    Most new vessel orders worldwide in August were made through South Korean shipyards, according to newly complied data from U.K.-based shipping and shipbuilding market analysis firm Clarkson Research Institute.
   According to the CRI-compiled statistics, South Korean shipbuilders sealed new orders to build nine vessels worth a combined 130,000 compensated gross tons (CGTs) last month.
   Chinese shipyards came in second with 110,000 CGTs, or seven ships, while Japanese shipyard orders amounted to 40,000 CGTs, or two vessels.
   For year-to-date orders, however, China still ranked first with orders worth 4.22 million CGTs (195 vessels), followed by South Korea, which had 3.48 million CGTs (104 ships), during the first eight months of the year.
   China was also the top country in backlog orders. Through August, it had 25.83 million CGTs, followed by Japan and South Korea with 16.12 million CGTs and 16.10 million CGTs, respectively, the latest data showed.
   As of late August, global ship order backlog amounted to 74.71 million CGT, floating below the 80 million CGT mark for six straight months.